Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate Program
Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate Program
In the Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate (OPC) program, students develop knowledge of native plants and the ever-expanding variety of ornamental well-suited for northeastern Illinois. The program covers more than 500 plants, focusing on identification, cultural requirements, and use in gardens and the broader landscape. Gain a deeper knowledge of horticulture with experiential learning in the gardens.
Who should participate? Aspiring professional gardeners, landscape technicians, landscape maintenance professionals, and other green-industry individuals seeking professional development. There are no prerequisites to start the program, and no prior horticulture experience is needed. Sign up for an Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate class today.
Student Resources
Course Overview
Program Policies
FAQ Brochure
Graduation
Questions?
Contact Stana, student advisor:
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Program Requirements
The program requirements include nine required core courses and 24 instructional hours of elective courses. The Botany 1 course is offered at least twice year. After completing Botany 1, the remaining eight required courses may be taken in any order. These eight courses are offered on a rotating basis over a two-year period. If you are able to take all the courses when offered, you can complete the certificate in just two years. All requirements for the certificate must be completed within five years of the start date of your first core course.
The nine required courses are graded and you will apply the course content through projects, quizzes, exams, or garden walks. For the certificate, a grade of at least 70 percent must be achieved for each required course.
A wide variety of elective course topics are offered so you can customize your coursework based on your interests and goals. Elective course topics range from successful plant combinations to sustainable practices to plant recommendations from horticulture experts. The elective courses are not graded so credit is recorded by attendance. Most elective courses do not incorporate quizzes or exams.
Ready to get started? Begin your journey with Botany 1 or an OPC elective course.
OPC Required Courses
| Botany 1 | |
| Annuals and Biennials | * |
| Conifers and Broad-leaved Evergreens | * |
| Deciduous Flowering Shrubs | * |
| Deciduous Trees | * |
| Ground Covers and Vines | * |
| Hardy Bulbs | * |
| Herbaceous Perennials | * |
| Small Flowering Trees | * |
* Classes that require Botany 1 as a prerequisite | |
OPC Elective Courses
24 instructional hours of elective credit is required
Credits are recorded by attendance, no testing is involved.
Each elective course is typically worth two to three instructional hours.
Classes are formatted with CEUs.
Example: 0.3 CEUs = 3 elective hours.
Available Classes
If a class is sold out, please contact us at (847) 835-6801 to be placed on the waitlist. The Garden will contact you if a space becomes available.
Best Wildflowers for Home Gardens
Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate
Sunday, May 4
10 – 1 p.m.
Annuals and Biennials
Ornamental Plant Materials, Garden Design, and Professional Gardener Levels 1 & 2 Certificates
7 Tuesdays:
May 13 – June 24
Classroom 1, Learning Center
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
6 Saturdays:
May 17 – June 21
Garden Walk, meet at Visitor Center
8 – 10 a.m.
Plant Propagation Basics
Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate
Thursday, May 29
6 – 9 p.m.
A Closer Look at Sedges and Rushes
Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate
2 Saturdays:
May 31 and June 7
10:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Botany 1
Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 1 Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate, and
Garden Design Certificate
6 Tuesdays, 4 Thursdays:
June 3 – July 10
No class June 19 and July 3
5 Mondays, 5 Wednesdays:
September 8 – October 20
No class September 22, October 1 and 13
6:30 – 9 p.m.
Pairing Native Plants with Nonnatives
Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate
Saturday, June 21
10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Resilient Trees in a Changing Climate: Online
Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate
Wednesday, June 25
6 – 8 p.m.
Transforming Lives Through Horticulture Online
Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate
Wednesday, July 9
6 – 8 p.m.
The Moss Garden: Online
Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate
Saturday, July 12
9 – 11 a.m.
Herbaceous Perennials
Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 1 Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate and
Garden Design Certificate
7 Tuesdays:
July 15 – August 26
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Includes Garden Walks,
meet at Visitor Center
6 Saturdays:
July 19 – August 23
8 – 10 a.m.
A Study of Patterned Gardens
Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate
2 Saturdays:
July 19 and 26
10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Knockout Native Plants: Online
Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate
Tuesday, September 9
6 – 8 p.m.
Conifers and Broad-leaved Evergreens
Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 1 Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate and
Garden Design Certificate
7 Tuesdays:
September 16 – November 4
No class September 23 and
October 14
Wednesday, November 12
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Classroom 1, Learning Center
6 Saturdays:
September 20 – November 8
No class September 27 and
October 11
8 – 10 a.m.
Garden Walks, meet at Visitor Center
Gold Medal Plants: Online
Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate
Thursday, September 18
6 – 8 p.m.